Spielmann



June 20, 1950 J. SPIELMANN 2,512,446

COMBINED AND PERPETUAL INDICATOR OF THE MENSTRUAL cycuzs Filed Dec. 11,1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 d Fl 0-1 June 20, 1950 J SPIELMANN 2,512,446

CGMBINED AND PERPETUAL INDICATOR OF THE MENSTRUAL CYCLES Filed Dec. 11,1-946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 q FIG-E /@EE]@@EJEIE]EJ June 20, 1950 J.SPIELMANN 2,512,445

COMBINED AND PERPETUAL INDICATQR OF THE MENSTRUAL CYCLES Filed Dec. 11,1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 20, 1950 J. SPIELMANN COMBINED AND PERPETUALINDICATOR OF THE MENSTRUAL CYCLES Filed Dec.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 20, 1950- COIVIBINED AND PERPETUALINDICATOR OF THE MENSTRUAL CYCLES Joseph Spielmann, Paris,'FranceApplication December 11, 1946, Serial No. 715,521 In France October 19469 Claims. (Cl. 23589) My present invention relates to a catamenial Icalendar and, in particular to a continuous catamenial calendar fordetermining the date and length of the menstrual periods.

It is an object of my vide a calendar of this type on which thedifferent lengths of menstrual periods are indicated in accordance withspecific dates for which the calendar can be -set.

It is another object of my present invention to provide a calendar ofpermits ascertainment of the dates of the next following menstruationperiod after ascertainment of the lengths of the menstrual intervals incase of a specific individua I a A still further object is to provide acalendar which, in addition to the above objects; also permits a readingof the period of fertility.

Another object of my invention is to provide a calendar which permitsreading of the items indicated as adjusted to different menstrualcycles.

A still further object of my invention is a calendar which is adapted toperform the functions indicated for a month of any possible length, i.e. including the month of February in regular, and in leap year-s. I

With the above objects in view, my present invention mainly consists; ina continuous calendar comprising an envelope being open at oppositeends, a slide member movable therethrough, tables of informationprovided on said slide memher, the said tables being arranged so thateach side of the slide member contains two distinct tables, and the twodistinct tables are arranged inversely in the direction from top tobottom of the slide member whereby the tables may be used for four typesof months according to the number of day-s in each month;

A particularly preferred embodiment of my invention is tohave acontinuous catamenial calendar comprising an envelope being open atopposite ends, a slide member movable there through, tables ofinformation provided on the slide member, the tables being arranged sothat each side of the slide member contains two distinct tables, the twodistinct tables being arranged inversely in the direction from top to.bot-' tom of the slide member whereby the tables may be used for fourtypes of months according to the number of days in each month, a firstseries of numbers forming part of the tables and representing" all ofthe days of the month, a plurality of superimposed second series ofnumbers forming part of said tables and each representing specificpresent invention to prothe type indicated which days of a month, aplurality of superimposed numerals provided on said envelope and eachrepresenting a different length of the menstrual cycle, a plurality ofwindows formed in the envelope and arranged in relation to the series ofnumbers so that when a particular day of the first series appears in afirst one of the windows indicating the first day of an earliermenstruation, an individualday of said second series will appear on thelevel of the cycle indicating numerals in a second display windowindicating the first day of a following menstruation according to thespecific cycle, and a series of days will appear in a third group ofdisplay windows on the level of each of the cycle indicating numerals,the latter display windows indicating the corresponding period offertility.

The novel features which I consider characteristic for my invention areset forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itselfhowever, both as to its construction and its meth- 0d of operation,together with additional objects'and advantages thereof, will be bestunderstood from thefollowing description of specific embodiments whenread in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a plan'view of the front side of the slide member employed inthe calendar according to my present invention;

, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the front side of the envelope in which theslide is movable;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the reverse side of the slide member; and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the reverse side of the envelope. v p

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that a slidemember generallyindicated by T and having a flat rectangular shape is movable in anenvelope generally indicated by E, and having a shape identical withthat of the slide member. The envelope is open at its short ends so thatthe slide member can move lengthwise therethrough.

.Each side of the slide member and each side of the envelope carriesitems of information. The reference letters used in the following toindicate these items in thedrawings will be identical to the two sidesof the slide member and for the two sides of the envelope except that ineach case the reversev side will be indicated by a prime symbol.

In addition, similar information appears on one and the same side of theslide member in alternate rows and inverse position that the slidemember may bereversed in the envelope to perinit reading of acorresponding type of information. The slide member is thus providedwith four tables of informatio two appearing in alternate rows and inrelatively inversed form on the front sheet, and two appearing in thesame manner on the reverse side.

The front sideof the slide member in the embodiment s'hown carries theinformation read from the top to thebottom relating to "months having 31days, and when read from bottom to top shows information relating tomonths having 29 days. The reverse side carries informationlrelating tomonths having 28 and 3D day's. The various tables may be readilyidentified by the large numerals shown in the drawingsan'clindicated bythe reference Iette'rs;d, e, Id ,and e In describing the individualitems appearing in each of the four tables, it will be noted that thereare several series of numbers which"fo'r convenience in the drawingshave been represented only by-the'first"and '--la-s't fe'w"'numbers' ofeach series, omitting the intermediate numbers.

In the "marginal portion of "each 'ta'ble designated j, g, and -'-"g',different sets of identical numbers, 1; e either 31 -or 2 9, or 28-or{30- appear for general indication-'of-the numberof daysin a particularmonth. 'Eae'h n'umber is repeated a suitable numb'er of times,corresponding to the da'ys existiiig inthat month, e. -g.,'=the 31 atthe-top f the-table'in Figure 1, would be repeated 31 times.

"Beneath' these figures, :a series of first consecutive numbers, n, mand n'appear, this series runningirom =one up to the numbercorresponding to the iniaximum number-f :days in the respective nmonths. These-numbers 1 are intended to represent the specific day in anearlier month on which a specific menstruation has begun,will-"beifurther' explained below.

*In the "area enclosed b series of numbers in :the horizontal 'iEQWS jof--numb shown, which in the use a the "dates of-the= next m spending.periods =of iertility. In some cases these numberswill-runintoafollowing month as ,indicatedat-h, b-, and the datesofthe followingmonths may-thenbe distinguished by a difierent color or otherwise, e. g.a-di'lierent colorof'background.

The envelope 'E which is shown inFi'gures 2 and 4, and in whichthe slidemember is movable has a recess'at'either of its 's'hort"'sides,'theirecess being indicated as c, c. In addition, the envelope is providedwith windows"h,"h', z, 'i'and Z, Z. The purpose of these windows h,'h"isto make visible the'figures in portions 9, f and g of the slide memberand individual figures of the series 722, 'n,jm' 'andn. I

Thepurpose of the windows 2 and Z is 'to make visible difierentitems ofseries 0, 0, p, p. 'This willbeexplained ata later point.

On the'envelope itselfthere isavertical column of'figures counting from24 to '32 as indicated at k,'k', which is correlated tothe'itemsappearing in windows 2', i, Z; Z" by: arrows 7', '7".

.In addition to'exposing the'numberot'days in a particular monthftheslots ca-nd c also facilitate the ,manipulati term of arplurality of ers;o, p, o and p, is of the 1 tablerepresents on 'of the slide memberin-its movement *relativeto the envelope.

One method of use which will now be described enables information to beobtained about the length of the menstruation cycle, i. e.-the number ofdays which-passes jfromthe first day of one yl-the line'a, -a',' asecond i (of the "beginning of the first menstruation. At

tit

enstruation, and corremenstruation until the -day preceding 1 the next rs itlieto'p of "the window appears one of the indications of the numberof days of the month on the'sti'ipsfl'f' g or g, at the bottom the dayof 'the month.

'I hen, .the date of arrival of the next menstruation already noted islooked for in one of the y following an arrow 1 or 7",

ycle is is read on the length-ofws 2 and z" and, b the length of the ccyc'ie index Zc or It I Taking Figure 2 as an -example, the window hshows day l'of a-month of 31 days. Iftheda-te of arrival of the next'-menstruation shown as the 29th, the 'index 7c tells -us that I thelength of thecycle is 28' 'days. -Obviously,-the operation must berepeated for-severalcycles if ex-act information is desired. Allowingfor the variations which normally occur, it can therefore be accertainedwhetherthere is complete irregularity. Thus, it will be knownwhen-medical attention shouldlee-sought.

t If the cycles are -regular,-no matter whether ctors Ogino and thegenetic period or -that--is thje-: five days of ovulae survival appearsfavorable-for procreation (a'ndforconfinement) for family, health oreugenicreasons.

If the cycles are regular andsimplaitis only necessary, as-soOn-as thefirst day of a-menstruation arrives, to -'setthe= date toappear in thewindowhor'h', to proceed as shown above, and toread o'if the-geneticperiod-through one of the windows I or Z opposite the correspondinglengthof-cycle index.

If the cycles are regular, but multiform, the reading of theperiodsappearing Windows 1 Figure .4, .for example; shows in thewindowi'hf,

the numeral 4'of a month of 28.days, that is the normal February. If

due to the variation. saytfromthe 9th to :the'24th February. In the sameway, the window 2' shows the possible 'dates of arrival of the nextmenstruation, 'say 28th February=td8th March, the March dates appearingat the bottom in a different color, reserved for the dates of thefollowing month. It is obvious that an extreme theoretical case is nowbeing considered.

In practice, it is only necessary to refer to the row or rows of geneticperiod numbers corresponding to one or several of the length-of-cycleindices. Thus, if the cycles are regular cycles of 30 days, the resultsread opposite the index 30 give a genetic period running from the 15thto the 22nd February, with the next menstruation for the 6th March.

The position of the slide member in the envelope is reversed asnecessary. The instrument shown is provided for cycles varying from 24to 32 days. But, obviously, modifications may be made in the number andlength of the cycles shown.

The instrument may advantageously be made of any of the synthetic resinmaterials usually called plastics, or it may be made of metal or ofcardboard or the like.

Clearly it may be made with variations in construction which do notafi'ect the principle on which it is based.

lhe blank parts of the slide member and the envelope are intended forany relevant instructions.

If consulted in a reasonable way, the instrument is a certain andprecise guide for women and a valuable aid for the gynaecologicalphysician.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofcatamenial calendars, differing from the types described above.

While I have illustrated and described the invention as embodied in acontinuous catamenial calendar, I do not intend to be limited to thedetails shown, since various modifications and structural changes may bemade without departing in any way from the spirit of my invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofmy invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adaptit for various applications, without omitting features that, from thestandpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics ofthe generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, suchadaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within themeaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A continuous calendar comprising an envelope being open at oppositeends; a slide member movable therethrough; a plurality of windows formedin said envelope; tables of information provided on said slide member,individual items of said tables being visible through said windows ofsaid envelope, the said tables being arranged so that each side of saidslide member contains two distinct tables, and the said two distincttables being arranged inversely in the direction from top to bottom ofthe slide member whereby the tables may be used for four types of monthsaccording t the number of days in each month.

2. A continuous catamenial calendar comprising an envelope being open atopposite ends; a slide member movable therethrough; tables ofinformation provided on said slide member, the said tables beingarranged so that each side of said slide member contain two distincttables,

the said two distinct tables being arranged inversely in the directionfrom top to bottom of the slide member whereby the tables may be usedfor four types of months according to the number of days in each month;a first series of numbers forming part of each of said tables andrepresenting all of the days of said month; a second series of numbersforming part of each of said tables and representing specific days of amonth; and a plurality of windows formed in said envelope and arrangedin relation to said series of numbers so that when an individual day ofsaid first series is visible in a first window, indicating the first dayof an earlier menstruation an individual day of said second series willappear in a second window indicating the first day of a nextmenstruation.

3. A continuous catamenial calendar comprising an envelope being open atopposite ends; a slide member movable therethrough; tables ofinformation provided on said slide members, the said tables beingarranged so that each side of said slide member contains two distincttables; the said two distinct tables being arranged inversely in thedirection from top to bottom of the slide member whereby the tables maybe used for four types of months according to the number of days in eachmonth; a first series of numbers forming part of each of said tables andrepresenting all of the days of said month; a plurality of superimposedsecond series of numbers forming part of each of said tables and eachrepresenting specific days of a month; a plurality of superimposednumerals provided on said envelope and each representing a differentlength f menstrual cycle; and a plurality of windows formed in saidenvelope and arranged in relation to said series of numbers so that whena particular day of said first series appears in a first one of saidwindows indicating the first day of an earlier menstruation anindividual day of said second series will appear on the level of each ofsaid cycle indicating numerals in a second window indicating the firstday of a following menstruation according to the specific cycle.

4. A continuous catamenial calendar compri ing an envelope being open atopposite ends; a slide member movable therethrough; tables ofinformation provided on said slide member, the said tables beingarranged so that each side of said slide member contains two distincttables, the said two distinct tables being arranged inversely in thedirection from top to bottom of the slide member whereby the tables maybe used for four types of months according to the number of days in eachmonth; a first series of numbers forming part of each of said tables andrepresenting all of the days of said month; a second series of numbersforming part of each of said tables and representing specific days of amonth; and a plurality of windows formed in said envelope and arrangedin relation to said series of numbers so that when an individual day ofsaid first series is visible in a first window, indicating the first dayof an earlier menstruation, an individual day of said second series willappear in a second window indicating the first day of a nextmenstruation, and a series of days will appear in a third display windowindicating the corresponding period of fertility.

5. A continuous catamenial calendar comprising an envelope being open atopposite ends; a slide member movable therethrough; tables ofinformation provided on said slide member, the said tables beingarranged so that each side of said slide member contains two distincttables, the said: two distinct tables being arranged: in-

versely in. the direction from top to. bottom of the,

slide member whereby the tables may be used for four types of monthsaccording to the number of days in. each month; a first series ofnumbers forming part of each of said tables and: representing all of thedays of said month; a plurality of superimposed second series of numbersforming part of each of said tables and each representing specific daysof a month; aplurality of' superimposed numeral provided on said-v en-vvelope andxeach representing a. diiferent length of menstrual cycle; anda plurality of, Windows formed in said envelope and arranged in relationto said series of numbers So that when a particular day of said firstseries appears in a first one of said Windows indicating the first dayof an earlier menstruation an individual day of said second series willappear on the level of each of said cycle indicating numerals in asecond window indicatnig the first day of a following menstruationaccording to the speciic cycle, and a series of days will appear in, athird group of windows on the level of each of said cycle indicatingnumerals, the latter window indicating the corresponding period offertility.

6; A continuous catamenial calendar comprising an envelope being open atopposite ends; a slide member movable therethrough; tables ofinformation provided on said slide member, th. said tables beingarranged so that each side oi said slide member contains two distincttables, the said two distinct tables being arranged in,- versely in thedirection from top to bottom of the slide member whereby the tables maybe used for four types of months according to the number of days in eachmonth; a first series of numbers forming part of each of said tables andrepresenting all of the days of, said month; a second series of numbersforming part of each of said tables and representing specific days of amonth; a plurality of windows formed in said envelope and arranged inrelation to said series of numbers so that when an individual day ofsaid first series is visible in a first window, indicating the first dayof an earlier menstruation, an individual day of said second series willappear in a secondwindow. indicating the first day of a nextmenstruation; and means for indicating the type of month associated.with each table, the latter means being provided on. said slide member.

7. A- continuous catamenial calendar comprising anenvelope being open atopposite ends; a slide member movable therethrough; tables ofinformation provided on said slide member, said tables being arranged sothat each side of saidslide member contains two distinct tables,

the said two distinct tables being arranged in versely to the directionfromtop to bottom of the-slidemember whereby the tables may be used forfour types of months according to the number of days in each-month; afirst series of numbers forming part of each of said tables andrepresenting all ofthe days of said month; a second series of numbersforming part of each ofsa-id tables and representing specific days of amonth; a plurality of windows formed in said envelope and arranged inrelation to said series of numbers so that when an individual dayof saidfirst series is visible in a first window, indicating'the first day ofan earliermenstruation, an individual dayof said second series willappearin a second window indicating the first day of a next.menstruation; means forindicating; the type. of month associatedwitheaohv table, the latter means being provid'edflon said slide,member; and a recess: provided in said. envelope for making: visiblesaid types of. month indicating means.

8. A, continuouscatamenial calendar comprisin an envelope being open, atopposite ends; a slide, member movable therethrough; tables ofinformation provided on said slide member, the said tables: beingarranged so that each side of said slide member contains two distincttables, the: said two distinct tables being arranged inversely in thedirection from top, to bottom of theslide member, wh re y e abl may eused-for four types; of months according to the number of days in eachmonth; a first series of numbers forming part of each of said tablesandrepresenting all Of; the days of said month; a plnrality of superimposedsecond series ofnonbersforming part. of each of said tables and eachrepresenting specific days of a month; a plurality of; superimposednumerals provided on said crsvelppe; andeach representing a differentlength of menstrual cycle; a plurality of windows formed insaid envelopeand arranged in to-said series of numbers so that when icular day ofsaid first series appears in a firstone 0t said windows indicating thefirst day ct an earlier menstruation, an individual day of:saidsecondseries will appear on the level of each of said cycleindicating numerals in a second, window indicating; the first day of afollowing: menstruation according to the specific cycle, and. a seriesof days. will appear in a third group of' windows on the level of each.ofsaid cycle indicating numerals, the latter windows indicating thecorresponding period of fertility; and means for indicating the type ofmonth associated with each table, the latter means being provided onsaid slide member.

9 rel-continuous catamenial calendar comprising an envelope being openat opposite ends; a slide member movable therethrough; tables ofinformation provided on: said slide member, the sa d tablesbeingarranged so-tha-t each side of U a slide member contains twodistinct tables, the said: two, distinct tabl s being: arranged in:-versely in, the direction fromptop to bottom of theslide-m-emberwherebythetablcs: may be used for four typesof months according to thenumber of days in each' month;- a first series of numbersrforming: partof said tables and representing a-llcf the-days of said month; aplurality of superimposed second series of numbers forming part of saidtables and each representing specific days of; a month; a plurality ofsuperimposed numerals provided on said envelope and each representing adifferent length of menstrual cycle; a plurality of windows formed insaid envelope and arranged in relation to said series of numbers so thatwhen a particular day of said first series appears in a first one ofsaid windows indicating the first day of earlier menstruation, anindividual day of said second series will appear on the level of each ofsaid cycle indicating numerals in a second window indicating the firstday of a following menstruation according to the specific cycle, and aseries of days will appear in a third group of windows on the level ofeach of said cycle indicating numerals, the latter windows indicatingthe corresponding period of fertility; means for indicatingthe-type-ofmonth associated with each table, the latter means beingprovided on said slide memher; and a recess provided in said envelopefor making visible said type of month indicating means.

JOSEPH SPIELMANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,406,210 Murray Feb. 14, 19221,785,866 Huene Dec. 23, 1930 Number Name Date 1,942,754 Heyssler Jan.9, 1934 1,983,062 Anderson Dec. 4, 1934 2,049,038 Anderson July 28, 1936FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 147,285 GreatBritain July 16, 1920OTHER REFERENCES Mortgage Amortization Calculator, published by WalpolePublishing Co. of Walpole, Mass, copyrighted in 1939. (Copy in Div. 23.)

